Meet and Eat: Aldo’s Ristorante

By Angela Blue

Scheduling a lunch meeting shouldn’t mean sacrificing on quality or atmosphere. It’s an opportunity to discuss important details, but it’s also time to eat, and that time should always be enjoyed. At Aldo’s Ristorante in Virginia Beach, the only aspect customers may find themselves compromising on is whether to share dessert—or just order two.

The dining room at Aldo’s Ristorante in Virginia Beach, located at 1860 Laskin Road.

Conveniently located in La Promenade Shoppes, Aldo’s occupies a central space with ample parking. Inside, guests will appreciate a pristine and comfortable atmosphere that’s relatively quiet and conducive for discussing details at lunch.

Since 1988, Aldo’s has been serving immensely satisfying, authentic Italian cuisine, and much like their exceptional wines, they’ve only gotten better with age. Co-owners Jim Farsi and Deborah Kassir were part of the original team, and later on, they brought in another partner, Rob Unger, a general manager and level 2 sommelier, who heads Aldo’s award-winning wine program.

“We have a well-trained, professional staff that can help select a glass or bottle of wine if you’re celebrating during your business lunch,” Kassir notes.

A chef tends to the wood fired oven at Aldo’s Ristorante.

My colleague and I are promptly situated at a comfortable table with booth-style seating, allowing us plenty of room to spread out. Silverware carefully placed and black cloth napkins perfectly folded, we’re ready to order.

If you’re feeling particularly ravenous—as we both are—you’ll want to start with an appetizer. Jumping right into the Italian spirit of the afternoon, we settle on the Roasted Red Pepper Rolls, stuffed with fresh goat cheese, served over homemade basil pesto sauce and topped with bread crumbs.

A varied selection of lighter and heartier dishes abounds throughout their menu.

“We have wonderful, dinner-sized portion salads,” Kassir suggests. “Or you can go for the gusto and have a filet.”

We achieve a fine balance by going a little light and a little robust.

The Cape Henry Crabmeat Cappellini is piled high with jumbo crabmeat, artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes soaked in a light, buttery stock and finished with a splash of sherry.

There are plenty of options available aside from pasta, too, including a fresh and local fish of the day, excellently prepared a number of ways.

To finish the meal, dessert is a must for us, and the delicate Napoleon proves to be a divine option. An exquisite, velvety cream is layered between sheets of flaky pastry crust. The confection is carefully placed atop an artful chocolate drizzle and blanketed with powdered sugar. And if there’s any debate on dessert while dining at Aldo’s, skip the discussion and just order two.

The Cape Henry Crabmeant Cappellini: jumbo crabmeat, artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes soaked in a light, buttery stock and finished with a splash of sherry.

Aldo’s is located at 1860 Laskin Rd., Virginia Beach. Call 757-491-1111, or visit AldosVB.com to learn more. Meeting with a larger group? Aldo’s has a private room that seats lunches and meetings for 12–50 people. In addition to their regular menu, lunch and dinner specials are available as well.